Zhdanov Doctrine

The Zhdanov Doctrine was a Soviet cultural policy introduced by Andrei Zhdanov in the late 1940s. It aimed to control artistic and intellectual life by promoting art that supported Communist ideals and suppressing Western influences. Under this doctrine, Soviet arts, literature, and media were expected to promote patriotism, socialism, and the Soviet state's goals, while rejecting anything considered "bourgeois" or Western. It also used cultural tools to reinforce ideological conformity and loyalty to the Soviet regime, shaping a distinct Soviet culture while limiting artistic freedom and diversity.